Social media can be used for many different reasons by many different people; from business people to celebrities or from employers/employees to photographers. Anyone can find a use for social media if not just for fun.
A social media network can be one-directional or bi-directional, or both. One-directional social networks can be used for fans or followers. For example celebrities can make a page on facebook or MySpace and users will add themselves as a fan. Once someone is a fan of the celebrity, they can receive updates on what they are currently working on, or where they will be on tour. A bi-directional site requires users on both ends to add/accept each other to become “friends” or “contacts.”
Many sites will allow the user to fill out information about themselves and upload a picture. They can also set the privacy of their profile to what people can see.
Following are examples of the different uses of social media:
Type
Site
Uses
business person
LinkedIn, Ning,
to find a job, find an employee, or establish him/herself in the professional community.
photographer
YouTube or Flickr
an easier way to share their work
music junkie
Padora, lastfm
listen to their favorite songs, and find new music.
gardening expert
www.gardening-network.com
expand/share their gardening knowledge
Health care professional
www.pertempshealthcare.com
brings health care professionals together.
Traveler
skype
video chat with friends or relatives
Anyone
facebook, myspace, twitter
keep in touch or reconnect with friends or family
Company
blogs, wikis
allow customers to give feedback to optimize business
Student
ratemyproffesor.com
To look up professors
Looking for love
eharmony, match.com
to find love
exercise guru
dailyburn.com
to find people to exercise with, new workouts.. etc.
video gamer
ign, xbox, playstation
to find people to play video games with
The possibilities are endless. Because of social media, you can always find someone with a common interest.
Following are examples of the different uses of social media: